Comments on: Cut down on the forum categories http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/ Community Building Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:46:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: feamor http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-22495 feamor Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:30:46 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-22495 It is my biggest problem now. I am developing a tech forum about hardware, software and programming. I have a large friend community who are in this job. I asked their ideas and needs then take feedback about which categories there should be. After creating all, I face with the question if i should cut down some of the categories or not. I am worried about moving topics to newly created categories can cause broken links and affect search engine ranking? It is my biggest problem now. I am developing a tech forum about hardware, software and programming. I have a large friend community who are in this job. I asked their ideas and needs then take feedback about which categories there should be.

After creating all, I face with the question if i should cut down some of the categories or not.

I am worried about moving topics to newly created categories can cause broken links and affect search engine ranking?

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-17333 Martin Reed - Blog Author Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:46:11 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-17333 <strong>Nauczyciel</strong> - Yes, as the site grows you will need to add more categories. I am not saying a large number of forum categories are always a bad thing - they are only to be avoided when your community is new and these new categories are unable to justify their keep. Nauczyciel – Yes, as the site grows you will need to add more categories. I am not saying a large number of forum categories are always a bad thing – they are only to be avoided when your community is new and these new categories are unable to justify their keep.

]]> By: Nauczyciel http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-17297 Nauczyciel Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:41:52 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-17297 I wholeheartedly agree with you but you concentrated only on how to get the things moving when the forum is brand new and shiny but without any contributions. I believe that later on you would stillhave to divide the categories into subcategories or you'll end up with a complete mess. The questions is, will you have enough time and commitment to do this once the forum has been populated. It'd involve copying the entries, educating your users, etc. I wholeheartedly agree with you but you concentrated only on how to get the things moving when the forum is brand new and shiny but without any contributions. I believe that later on you would stillhave to divide the categories into subcategories or you’ll end up with a complete mess.

The questions is, will you have enough time and commitment to do this once the forum has been populated. It’d involve copying the entries, educating your users, etc.

]]> By: Choosing a name for your forum categories » Online Community Building http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-5020 Choosing a name for your forum categories » Online Community Building Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:34:59 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-5020 [...] said before, you should only ensure you have a large number of categories if your community can support them; there is nothing worse than visiting a forum for the first time to see empty [...] [...] said before, you should only ensure you have a large number of categories if your community can support them; there is nothing worse than visiting a forum for the first time to see empty [...]

]]> By: Using polls to understand your members » Online Community Building http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-4897 Using polls to understand your members » Online Community Building Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:35:29 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-4897 [...] responses? The data will be worthless and your community will look empty to new visitors, just as empty forum categories leave a bad first [...] [...] responses? The data will be worthless and your community will look empty to new visitors, just as empty forum categories leave a bad first [...]

]]> By: When members request new forum categories » Online Community Building http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-4384 When members request new forum categories » Online Community Building Sat, 14 Jul 2007 14:03:31 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-4384 [...] the beginning of June, I wrote an article entitled ‘Cut down on the forum categories‘. In the article, I wrote about why there is nothing worse than having too many forum [...] [...] the beginning of June, I wrote an article entitled ‘Cut down on the forum categories‘. In the article, I wrote about why there is nothing worse than having too many forum [...]

]]> By: Martin Reed http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-2254 Martin Reed Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:40:13 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-2254 Hi liam - Thanks for your comment. I completely agree - there is nothing wrong with having a large number of categories if you have the membership base and interaction to support them. Having a huge number of categories when you first start only draws attention to the young age and lack of activity on your forum, and should be avoided. Hi liam – Thanks for your comment. I completely agree – there is nothing wrong with having a large number of categories if you have the membership base and interaction to support them.

Having a huge number of categories when you first start only draws attention to the young age and lack of activity on your forum, and should be avoided.

]]> By: liam http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-2253 liam Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:18:16 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-2253 Yes, I've created many forums, and it not only makes it harder to read when you have 300 different categories but no one will really know where to post what. Now if you have 30k users and everyone posts regularly, maybe expanding the categories would be useful. It's probably not a good idea to start with though. Yes, I’ve created many forums, and it not only makes it harder to read when you have 300 different categories but no one will really know where to post what.

Now if you have 30k users and everyone posts regularly, maybe expanding the categories would be useful. It’s probably not a good idea to start with though.

]]> By: Martin Reed http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-2001 Martin Reed Wed, 06 Jun 2007 10:11:09 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-2001 I think you have made a move for the better by grouping such specific niches into a generalised 'hold-all' category. Good luck with your community. I think you have made a move for the better by grouping such specific niches into a generalised ‘hold-all’ category.

Good luck with your community.

]]> By: Smiley http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/comment-page-1/#comment-1987 Smiley Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:42:10 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/cut-down-on-the-forum-categories/#comment-1987 I find it difficult to pass up on good advice when it's offered openly & free. Instead of deleting different forums, I've merged 3/4 of them together. I had, for instance, a music forum, a forum for television and a separate one completely for film & cinema. I've simply made an "Entertainment" forum now to chuck them all into one, and done the same with all the other forums. The boards look much smaller, but, a lot less empty already even with very few posts at the moment. And you're right, it does look a lot more appealing than scrolling down to see "0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0" I find it difficult to pass up on good advice when it’s offered openly & free.

Instead of deleting different forums, I’ve merged 3/4 of them together.

I had, for instance, a music forum, a forum for television and a separate one completely for film & cinema. I’ve simply made an “Entertainment” forum now to chuck them all into one, and done the same with all the other forums.

The boards look much smaller, but, a lot less empty already even with very few posts at the moment.

And you’re right, it does look a lot more appealing than scrolling down to see “0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0″

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